The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has expressed the country’s deep concerns over media reports that the United States of America’s (U.S.) Administration intends to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to relocate its embassy there.

The MOFA went on to convey that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would view the step, if taken, as a contradiction to immutable international resolutions that emphasize the rights of the Palestinian People to Jerusalem. Additionally, the implications of such a move will signal a fundamental change and unwarranted shift in the U.S.’s typically impartial position at a time when the world views the United States of America as an integral part of the peace process. Given the important status of Jerusalem, this potential move would also widen the regional ripple effects by further complicating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict; obstructing the on going peace process; and provoking the sentiments from the global Muslim community.

The MOFA further emphasized the importance for the U.S. Administration to consider the gravely negative consequences of taking the step to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and recognize it as the capital of Israel. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hopes that the U.S. administration does not move forward with it; so as to not comprise the ability of the U.S. to continue in its effort to achieve a just resolution for the Palestinian People aligned with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and other relevant international resolutions.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Royal Highness Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud also iterated: “We remain committed to the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 based on the 1967 borders including east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. We are working with the President’s peace negotiation team to achieve a fair and just settlement.

Any announcement prior to a final settlement would have a detrimental impact on the peace process and would heighten tensions in the region. The Kingdom’s policy -has been - and remains in support of the Palestinian People, and this has been communicated to the US Administration.”